An open, multicentre study of acebutolol, given as a single daily dose, in the management of hypertension

SummaryAn open, multicentre trial was carried out in 21 hypertensive patients to assess the effectiveness of acebutolol when given orally as a single daily dose over a period of 3 months. On admission to the trial, all existing antihypertensive medication was stopped for at least 1 week and patients then started on a single morning dose of 400 mg acebutolol per day. Blood pressure and pulse rate measurements were made initially and at monthly intervals. Of the 20 patients whose data were analyzed, 17 continued on this dosage for the 3 months: in the remaining 3 patients, the single daily dose was increased to 600 mg at the end of the first and/or second month in order to maintain satisfactory control of the blood pressure. Three patients were also given a diuretic as concomitant medication; in 2 during the last month only, and from the end of the third week in 1 patient. The results showed that acebutolol given once daily produced a substantial and progressive reduction in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, and in the tension time index, both in the lying and standing position, over the 3 months of the trial. The changes from pre-trial values of all assessments were statistically significant (p<.001). Only 5 patients reported side-effects: none of these caused concern and laboratory monitoring of biological parameters revealed no untoward effects of treatment.